Dispensing-vehicle



J. B. MOODY DISPENSING VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE10, 1919.

1,327,248. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

zz T I J B. MOODY J. B. MOODY. DISPENSING VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I0. 1918.

1,327,248, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- TED STARS PA 1 JASON B. MOODY,-OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

DISPENSING-VEHICLE.

Application filed June 10, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ASON B. MOODY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harrisand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to dispensing vehicles.

The idea involved in this invention is to provide a portable store or dispensing vehicle constructed to be stocked with merchandise and so arranged that the merchandise may be displayed and sold at a minimum expenditure of labor and sales quickly made. By such an arrangement it will only be necessary to carry a small stock which would be quickly turned and always fresh. The portable store has the added advantage of a quick change of location, if necessary or desirable, and would save considerable time both to the dispenser and the customer.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is illustrated, and wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the various parts opened up and ready for business, refrigerator being illustrated partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a rear end Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the vehicle. and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the various parts folded and closed and the vehicle ready for tramportation.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the floor of a vehicle-body which is mounted on a suitable running gear 2, equipped with ground wheels 3. T he front end of the vehicle has a framed opening 1 closed by a door 5, the bottom 6 of the framing providing a drivers seat. \Vhile the vehicle is shown so as to be drawn by draft animals it is to be understood it could be motor driven or transported. \Vithin the body of the vehicle superposed shelves 7 are arranged along each side and at the front end of the vehicle-body These shelves are divided into compartments by vertical partitions 8 and are equipped with retaining rails 9 secured to the front edges of the partltions a short distance above the shelves. If desired price tags 10 may be mounted on the retaining Specification of Letters Patent.

elevation of the same, Y

Patented Jan. 6, 192a Serial No 239,293.

rails to indicate the price of the article or commodity stored in the compartment. It is to be understood that the interior structure could be varied to suit the stock carried and modified as desired. On one side of the body at the central portion a housing 11 is provided and has one side opening into the body. A heating stove 12 may be placed in this housing or it can be used for storage space when the stove is not needed. On the opposite side of the body a refrigerating housing 13 is mounted and arranged so that access may be had to the same from the interior of the vehicle-body, while the ice chamber is provided with an exterior door 14: so that the ice may be supplied from the outside. The body is provided with a roof 15 which carries skylights 16 whereby daylight is admitted to the interior of the vehicle-body, and it is obvious that the sides of the body could be made of glass or provided with windows (not shown) which would be within the province of a skilled mechanic.

At the rear end of the vehicle-body the shelves are closed by vertical end panels 17 between which a counter apron or gate 18 is arranged and' hinged to one of said panels. The apron carriesa bin 19 across its lower portion and projecting outwardly therefrom. The bin has a glass front so that the contents may be observed. At the top of the apron a horizontal counter 20 is hinged and arranged to fold inward as shown in dotted lines in Fi 3, and is provided with a bracket 21 511011 engages the apron and sup- I in full view from ports the counter when it is swung outward for service. The apron 18 and bin 19 are set in from the rear end of the body so that display doors 2'2 hinged to the sides of the body may be mounted. These doors have their lower ends terminate just above the bin 19. Each door is provided on its inner side with shelves or racks 23 carrying retaining rails 21 on which price tags 25 are movably mounted in a suitable manner. When the doors are opened outward, as shown in Fig. 2, they are the rear end of the vehicle. A sample of each article carried .in stock within the vehicle is placed in the racks 23 and the price tags adjusted in front of the same as shown. Thus one may see at a glance just what articles the store has for sale and the customer is reminded to make purchases which might otherwise be forgotten. The apron 18 is set in far enough to permit the racks to be swung into the body when the vehicle is out this. feature I when the doors are closed after the counter 20 has been folded down, as shown.

It is obvious that various structures might be evolved for enabling the customer to approach and get up to the counter, and it is possible to remove the running gear and wheels and let the floorl rest on the ground or a. low support (not shown). However I .consider it more practical to equip the vehicle' with a platform which the customer may mount and which may be folded up in transit. In carrying provide a platform 26 having arms 27 pivoted at 28 to the sides of the vehicle-body as shown. When the platformis swun 'down the arms swing into keepers 29 xed on the sides of the body whereby the platform is held level. Folding legs 30 support the outer end of the platform. At each side of the platform a railing 31 is hinged and arranged to swing down on to the platform when-the latter is folded up. At the-outer end of the platform folding steps 32 are arranged, the uppermost riser 33 being fastened to the platform and secured by a brace 34, as shown. When the platform is folded up, as shown in Fig. 4:, the side-rails 31 are first folded down on to the same and the legs 30 swung down against the bottom of the platform while the steps are previously folded and are supported on the riser 33. The platform is suitably fastened in its folded position as by latches 37. At the rear end of the roof a slideway 35 is provided over: the apron 18 and a horizontal canopy 36 is mounted in the slideway so as to project out over the platform when the latter is lowered or to be slid into the Vehicle when the same is in transit. The canopy rotects the counter and platform from the elements of the weather and provides shade.

It will be seen that one clerk within the vehiclemay quickly wait on customers who steps 3 mount to the platform 26 by way of the The customer has only to observe the racks 23 to see at a glance just what articles are in stocktogether with the price of the same. This makes very quick sales,

also reminds the customer to purchase goods which might otherwise be forgotten. It is proposed to sell the goods in their original wrappers and eliminate the expense of wrapping. Such commodities as eggs and fruit, etc., may be put in sacks. The vehicle may be easily transported and the location changedwhen desired. It is only necessary to carry a small stock and thus the customer is assured fresh goods. Further the portable store is so conveniently located that the customer need not ca the goods very far.

The foregoing description and illustration clearly express the invention, but it is to be understood that said illustration is end of the merely an exemplification and the invention may be carried out in various other ways.

What I claim is,

1. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination of a vehicle-body having provision for storing merchandise therein, a counter at one end of the body, doors at the counter end of the body carrying sample display racks, a platform mounted below the doors, and steps leading up to the platform.

2. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination of a vehicle-body having provision for storing therein a stock of merchandise, a counter at the rear end of the body, doors at the rear end of the body carrying sample display racks, a platform hinged to the rear body, side-rails hinged to the platform, steps hinged to the platform, and a sliding canopy mounted on the body above the platform. 3. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle-body having provision for storing merchandlse therein, of a counter at one end of the body, doors connected with the bot Y at the counter end'of the body and adapted to be shifted to closed and opened positions, and display racks carried by the inner sides of the doors for receiving samples or the like.

In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle-body having a longitudinal passage and interior compartments arranged upon the opposite sides of the passage, of a counter at one end of the vehicle-body, doors connected with the counter end of the vehicle-body and adapted when in the closed position to cover the corresponding end of the passage and to be shifted to open display positions, and racks secured to the inner sides of the doors to receive samples or the like.

5. In a dispensing vehicle, the combination with a vehicle body having a longitudinal passage and interior compartments for receiving merchandise, of an apron hinged to the vehicle-body and arranged within the same near and spaced from one end thereof, a counter carried by the a ron, ClOuI'S hinged to the sides of the vehiclebody at the counter end thereof, racks to receive samples or the like secured to the inner sides of the doors, said racks being shifted to the display positions when the doors are open and being arranged within the end of the vehicle-body in proximity to the apron when the doors are closed.

In a tion with a vehicle-body havlng a longitudinal passage and interior compartments for receiving merchandise, of an apron hinged to the vehicle-body and arranged within the same near'and spaced from one end thereof, a counter hinged to the apron to be shifted to an open or-collapsed podispensing vehicle, the combina- I sition, an outwardly ried by the lower bulging trough car-' portion of the apron, doors hinged to the sides of the vehicle body andhaving their lower ends terminating near and the trough, and racks secured to the inner sides of the doors, said racks fitting within the end of the vehicle-body and occupying the space rovided by the inward arrangement oft e'apron, when the doors are in the closed osition, said closed doors being arranged .a ye the trough.

7. The combination with a vehicle-body provided with a longitudinal passageand interior compartments,

above the upper end ofa' platform arranged at one end of the vehicle-body and pivotally connected therewith to be shifted to substantially horizontal sitions, means to support the platform in the horizontal position means to support the platform in the vertical position, and a collapsible step having. a riser thereof rigifdly secured to the free end of the platorm.

In testimony whereof I afliir my signature.

JASON is, MOODY.

and vertical po- 4 

